Greed

Thinking clearly and using common sense to address a situation should be an easy thing to do. When politicians, liars, and twisted ideologues muddy the waters they make what should be a non-complicating concept ultra-confusing and turn it inside out. One example is the basic idea of working hard to become a success, also known as achieving the American dream.

For more than two hundred years Americans believed in the principle of honest labor. Education, hard work, and ambition was the way to get ahead. In America, as in no other place, it was possible for a poor man to become rich through virtue of his abilities, intelligence, and creativity. Of course, there are no guarantees that everyone would be wealthy, but the possibility was there. In any case, through your labors you could make a good living for yourself and your family and put a little money away besides.

Keeping the money you'd made through honest work was normal and honorable. But if you listen to those on the left, unless you are willing to have it taken away from you and given to those who cannot or do not choose to work you are evil, selfish, and probably a racist. Holding on to your hard-earned money is no longer deemed as virtuous.

Which brings me back to the idea of thinking clearly and using common sense. Too many people listen to the progressive mantra and get caught up in it. Too many are easily led into leftist, Marxist thinking. That's why it is such a pleasure and a blessing to have thinkers like Thomas Sowell, a man who can articulate clearly and set straight those virtuous concepts which the left has muddled.

In his book "Barbarians inside the Gates and Other Controversial Essays" Sowell writes, "I have never understood why it is "greed" to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else's money." So simply put. So perfectly stated. It couldn't be said any better.

Socialistic thinking is gaining ground in our country, beginning in the universities and colleges, but more and more seeping into all aspects of our lives. Those who push for it use terms such as "paying your fair share," "social justice," and "equity." It all amounts to a redistribution of the wealth. Government taking money from people who have earned it and giving it to people who have not.

E.B. White, one of the 20th Century's most insightful writers, spoke of the difference between capitalism and socialism. Capitalism is individualism and socialism is statism, he wrote. That sums it up pretty clearly. The individual takes responsibility for him or herself. With statism the government takes charge of the individual. It's not really much more complicated than that. The question for all people becomes a simple one. Do you want to make your own decisions on your life or do you want government authoritarians to make those decisions for you?

It's a matter of independence or dependence.

Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

I'm sure there are many people who prefer to be completely taken care of by big government. I'm not speaking of those individuals who are truly in need of help, those with severe illness and are otherwise incapacitated. Of course, we as a society must and do care for those who really cannot care for themselves. But there are too many of our fellow citizens (and non-citizens) who could care for themselves but who would rather not.

Nevertheless, I find it hard to believe that most of us are willing to give up our freedom and hand it over to elite rulers in Washington. Our country was founded on the principle of individualism. That's what liberty and freedom is all about. The freedom to make one's own choices. Freedom of religion, the freedom to own property, freedom of speech, and the freedom to pursue our own happiness.

And yes, the freedom to earn our own money and do with it as we see fit. The greedy among us are not those who earn money, it is those who take money from us to give it to those who do not earn it for themselves.

(COMMENT, BELOW)